Mansfield Park: Chapter 15 Summary & Analysis

Maria returns home, reporting that Mary has accepted her part. Mr. Rushworth arrives at the house, and is offered either the part of Anhalt or Count Casel. He chooses Count Casel. Maria, thinking Mr. Rushworth’s slowness might prevent him from learning his lines, shortens all the speeches of his that she can. Mr. Rushworth occupies himself with figuring out what his costume should be, a job that he likes very much but pretends not to.

When Edmund enters the drawing room, he stumbles upon the group mid-discussion. Mr. Rushworth tells him that they have chosen “Lovers’ Vows” and that he is playing Count Casel, and begins to talk about what he will wear. Mr. Yates confirms the chosen play, saying it is surprising they did not think of it earlier, and that they have cast almost every part.

Edmund asks what roles the women are playing, and Maria tells him she is Agatha and Mary is Amelia. Edmund turns to sit near Mrs. Norris, Lady Bertram, and Fanny at the fire. Mr. Rushworth tells him that he has forty-two speeches in the play, and talks about his clothes again.

Tom leaves the room to answer a question posed by the carpenter, and Mr. Yates follows him out. Edmund tells Maria that he cannot condone the play they have chosen, saying it is inappropriate, and hopes they will decide to quit. He tells her to read it over so she will understand. Maria tells him that she knows the play well and that with a few alterations it will be perfectly appropriate. Edmund tells her she should be setting a good example for the other women, which flatters her, but she still refuses to quit. They argue back and forth.

Lady Bertram, who seems to not care very much, tells Maria to be proper and tells Fanny to order her dinner. Edmund tells Lady Bertram that Sir Thomas would not like Maria playing Agatha. Maria says that if she drops the part Julia will take it, thinking that the fact that she is not engaged would make her playing it more proper. Furthermore, Maria says that if they change the play they will never choose one.

Mrs. Norris agrees with Maria, and says they should not waste money on a new set. She adds that, since Mr. Rushworth will be acting as well, there can be no harm for Maria’s reputation. She then drones on about the curtain she is making for the play and some irrelevant interaction with a servant. No one answers her. Edmund gives up his objections to the play as a lost cause.

At dinner, Mrs. Norris once again tells her story about the servant. They don’t discuss the play much, because of the tension between Edmund and Tom, Julia’s sourness about her part, and the fact that Mr. Rushworth’s repeated attempts to center the conversation on himself, his speeches, and his dress are very boring.

After dinner, Tom, Maria, and Mr. Yates go into the drawing room to study the play. Henry and Mary arrive. Mary compliments Lady Bertram on the play being finally chosen, saying she is sure that Lady Bertram is tired of all their discussion, along with Mrs. Norris, Fanny, and Edmund. Lady Bertram says something pleasant in response, but Edmund says nothing.

Mary asks who is going to play Anhalt, who has not yet been cast. Mr. Rushworth brags about the number of his speeches. Mr. Yates suggests that Edmund should take the part, but Tom refuses to ask him.

Mary returns to Lady Bertram, Fanny, and Edmund, and asks Edmund what he thinks they should do about Anhalt. Edmund suggests they change the play. Mary says she agrees, but that no one else will. Mary suggests that Edmund might be tempted to play Anhalt since he is also a clergyman, and Edmund declines. Mary, embarrassed, goes to talk to Mrs. Norris.

Tom tells Fanny that they need her to play the Cottager’s Wife. Fanny is shocked and says she cannot. Tom insists, but Fanny thoroughly objects, and they go back and forth while Edmund watches. Mrs. Norris tells Fanny that she is ashamed of her because she will not help her cousins. Edmund defends Fanny, and tells Mrs. Norris to let her choose for herself. Mrs. Norris says that Fanny is ungrateful, making Edmund angry. Fanny begins to cry.

Mary moves her chair over towards Fanny’s and tries to soothe her, giving the others a look to indicate that they should leave Fanny alone. Fanny is grateful for Mary’s kindness. Mary asks her about her needlework, and about William, making Fanny like her more.

Meanwhile, the others continue discussing the play. Eventually, Tom calls Mary away from Fanny to discuss the problematic lack of an Anhalt. Tom proposes finding someone from the surrounding area to play him, saying he will go tomorrow morning into the village and ask a few men he knows. Mary says she thinks that would be fine. They decide to ask a villager. Though everyone expects Edmund to object, he says nothing. Mary then confides in Fanny that she is not very enthusiastic about the play, and will shorten her lines, now that her counterpart will be a villager she hardly knows.